Just over a week ago, we published our Labour Market Review (LMR). The report clearly identified a ‘perfect storm’ is coming – with insufficient nursing staff, exponentially rising demand and no coherent strategy to address this.

We already have a nursing shortage and NHS staff pay has suffered serious real-terms cuts. Training places are being hit, the student bursary is ending and Brexit could affect international recruitment. On top of all that a third of today’s nurses are due to retire within ten years.

The situation is serious and grows more so every day.

And yet the Government’s fragmented approach to workforce planning continues. Despite all the warnings that we need more nurses, not fewer and that we need fair pay and decent terms, the undermining of the profession goes on.

This clearly cannot continue. The LMR and the other evidence we submitted to the NHS Pay Review Body outlined why pay restraint must end – nursing staff cannot afford to survive on their current wages and we need to make nursing an attractive career.

But we need your help to be heard at the highest levels of Government.

Please sign the petition started by RCN member Danielle Tiplady so it reaches 100,000 signatures. It’s time Parliament debated nursing pay.

Janet Davies

Former RCN Chief Executive & General Secretary

Janet began her nursing career in Manchester and gained experience in acute, mental health and community settings. She later moved into director of nursing roles, where she obtained experience in leadership, before being RCN Chief Executive & General Secretary from 2015 to August 2018.